Voters’ concerns? Healthcare, immigration

Voters from around central Illinois are sounding off on the issues most important to them as they head to the polls in less than two weeks.

While he’s not on the ballot for the midterm, President Donald Trump has been out on the stump for Republicans. This Saturday in Murphysboro, he’ll be rallying supporters behind U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, who faces Democratic challenger Brendan Kelly.

At previous rallies for other Republicans around the country, Trump said the midterm election is about Kavanaugh and caravans, in reference to the contentious yet successful bid to get U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh approved and the growing migrant caravan headed to the U.S. border.

Joann Fenton from Springfield said she is concerned about immigration.

“I have no problem with controlling those entering, I just don’t like what’s being done there with the separating of the families, automatically saying no one can come in, that’s not what our laws say,” Fenton said.

Benson resident Donald Rients, who challenged U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood in the Republican primary, said he’s focused on the economy, trade and health care.

“I think we need to have affordable coverage, affordable premiums, and to do that you’ve got to have competition,” Rients said.

Rients said he opposes a government takeover of health care.

Dan Barham of Chatham, just south of Springfield, said there needs to be better political decorum in general. He also criticized the recent federal tax cuts that he says have increased the national debt.

“And now they’re talking about a second [tax cut], that’s ballooned up the deficit and now they’re talking about cutting Social Security, Medicare to pay for it? That’s absolutely ridiculous,” Barham said.

Betty Houston from Jacksonville didn’t have taxes or debt as her top issues. She said as a farmer there are two main things she’s keeping in mind when headed to the polls.

“I’m concerned about everything that’s connected with the farm and everything like that, that’s my income, and the economy,” Houston said.

Houston also said she’s worried about Social Security and health care.

The midterm election will determine whether Republicans maintain control of Congress, or Democrats take either chamber in governing with the Republican president.